Danielle Sarver Coombs is currently presenting, talking about the fitness video Positive Moves (amazing). Even better, she just mentioned her new puppy J. B. Fetcher!

It’s 5 am pst (where I am) and I’m up and ready to present at the “Lansbury at 100” conference in the UK (over zoom). Thank goodness, given the theme, I didn’t have to do much to get ready wardrobe-wise—trench coat and done! Jessica Fletcher forever!

I had a lot of fun with this one! Fairy tales for parents!

Additional book topic criterion: who would send me happy birthday wishes if I wrote a book about them (because Weird Al has done that every year on my birthday since I wrote Weird Al: Seriously)? (Amazing, I know!!!!)

I have an October birthday (today) and have written two books about people with October birthdays—both people who are iconic, musical, kind, and admirable in every way—Weird Al and Angela Lansbury. If I stick with the pattern, what’s my next book topic?

New book’s out this month! Happy October!

Parents need all the applause, especially these days if they’re responsibly trying to help their kids through the chaos that is the world today. CLAP PLEASE!

For some reason, I feel like posting this for some basic education about the Amish: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOfZ...

So many versions of the color black!

battle doomscrolling by posting five small pleasures in life: 1. A sweet, old dog sleeping peacefully 2. Toast with butter 3. Rain out the window 4. A good laugh 5. Rustling leaves

Let’s pretend I got the publisher website into the magnifying glass: www.bloomsbury.com/us/nowhere-t...

I’m taking a stand: A mule is too many things. It can’t be a drink, a shoe, and an animal. Too much.

School picture time! Always the worst photo of my kids.

For the record, I love love love kids theater. This is kind of inspired by the friends I have who may feel like they have to attend all the shows featuring my kids. There’s no obligation. In exchange, however, you cannot expect me to attend your kids’ sports stuff or know what a pop warner is.

When in doubt, ask yourself, WWJW—what would Jessica wear? #jessicafletcher #murdershewrote #angelalansbury #fashiongoals

Now that my Angela Lansbury book is almost out (a little over a month), just in time for the spookiest month (Murder, She Wrote month), I have a big decision to make: Do I need to buy a trench coat?

Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur were friends and then some—two Broadway legends who sang “Bosom Buddies” together in Mame and then remained close as they both in separate ways upended norms around women and aging in television. My friends and I mostly just drink coffee together.

Here are the top things I’ve learned so far from The Summer I Turned Pretty: 1. Don’t date someone with a brother—too much drama! 2. If you’re gonna eat a peach, have lots of napkins ready.

Growing up is hard. Everything changes all the time, including the world around you, your body, and M&M’s, which now come in peanut butter and jelly flavor. By @lilyehirsch.bsky.social medium.com/frazzled/why...

Slightly diminish a band Neutral Milk Hostel

I’m not sure I included enough puns in the chapter titles of my upcoming book Nowhere to Go but Up. I mean, right?! Too much of a good thing (yes, good) doesn’t apply here 😆

This documentary is worth seeing for anyone who loves funny music! You can check it out today! www.kqed.org/arts/1397973...

I wrote something about Tom Lehrer for the Indiana University Press blog: iupress.org/connect/blog...

So sad to hear about Tom Lehrer’s passing. I interviewed him for my book Taking Funny Music Seriously, even though he avoided interviews. But I had written him asking to talk about funny songs dealing with death, and the topic must have intrigued him. It was a day I’ll never forget. RIP.

I’m torn though. That show succeeded because of Lansbury but I’m all about programming that features smart, older women. What do you all think?

Hard to imagine anyone else in this role! www.thedailybeast.com/oscar-winnin...

This one seems like a commentary on late summer and maybe the state of the world.

My daughter’s theater group has two girls named Lily. To distinguish, the teachers use last name initial, so Lily A. and Lily P. When they dismissed Lily A., I said to my son “that’s what they call me in Canada.” I fear I’ve lost his respect forever.

I’m clearing everything up in this one, for anyone attending events with specific dress codes this summer! medium.com/slackjaw/hoo...

The best way to cheer up! www.billboard.com/culture/tv-f...

This is a local theater appreciation post (with both of my kids involved this summer). I’ve seen again what theater gives kids—confidence, community, fun, creativity. All things good. I often feel like the world is not helping me raise my kids—with all the tough stuff out there. But theater is. ❤️

Is my favorite part of the new Lena Dunham show Too Much the main character’s Angela Lansbury wall paper? Yeah, maybe. Why do you ask?

Low-key rebels unite!

Movie pitch: He’s Just Not That Into You, only it’s writers and agents/editors, with writers sending multiple follow-ups until some hero explains to them that there is no point.

Totally agree!!!

I love coming up with unusual review ideas for the book review section of the Journal of Musicological Research. One idea I haven’t been able to make happen yet: a review focused on a few different books dealing with a single song and the challenges of that sort of book project. Anyone?

I’m looking for a musicologist up for reviewing a book for the Journal of Musicological Research: The Composer Embalmed. Anyone interested?

Weird Al fans are the best, by the way. And his current tour is pure joy!

I just got back from Vegas where I caught the Weird Al tour with my son. Somehow, a few people there recognized me as the author of Weird Al: Seriously. I heard my son telling my daughter, “Yeah, people were so excited to see mom. I don’t really believe it happened even though I saw it happen.”

Did I mention silly inserts? I had some fun coming up with this one, for anyone who ever wondered about the newspaper in Cabot Cove 🤣#murdershewrote #angelalansbury #newbooks #comingsoon

For anyone who doesn’t know about Angela Lansbury’s fitness video Positive Moves, strap in. I have some fun info for you in my forthcoming book, Nowhere to Go but Up!

Page proof time! Coming soon!

I can be such a summer buzzkill! 🤣

Now that Weird Al’s tour is kicking off, I wanted to post a related book. I’m really always happy to have a reason to think about this book. It was an absolute pleasure to work on! A real life highlight—from start to finish! www.bloomsbury.com/us/weird-al-...

I always love seeing Weird Al in the news, getting the recognition he deserves! www.billboard.com/music/featur...

There’s a reason news rhymes with booze.

Someone told my daughter and I that we could be twins. Her horror was justified. At 14, she does not want to look like a middle-aged woman. On the other hand, last week someone said to me, “Oh, your daughter’s so pretty. Did you look like that when you were young?” One of us has to lose.

I get that people enjoy the whole frenemy thing. But how about we give this whole Blake and Taylor thing a rest. Donald and Elon are the real deal.

Congrats! You, the middle schools, have successfully earned the award for most awkward end-of-the-year award ceremony simply by being middle schools. By @lilyehirsch.bsky.social medium.com/frazzled/the...

My new favorite genre of writing is dress code categories. Resort elegant? What in the world? And why does it sound like poetry?